Arielle Valdes, who was 21 years old, was last seen leaving her home around 6:30 p.m. on August 28. She went out for a run in North Fort Myers and then disappeared. Florida authorities searched for five days before finding the remains of a body they believed to be Arielle Valdes along the Caloosahatchee River on September 2. At this time, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office does not believe there to be any foul play and have yet to release her cause of death to the public.
Arielle Valdes’ Disappearance
Arielle Valdes was training for a marathon when she went missing on August 28. She went running on the 90th block of Mariana Avenue around 6:30 p.m. that evening. Several Department of Transportation cameras caught images of her on her run, the last of which was captured around 6:50 p.m. She was running south to the Edison Bridge, which crosses the Caloosahatchee River. Search crews were formed, and they went on an extensive 5-day search.
Valdes’ body was discovered along the river on September 2. Her family shared with social media and the police that she had been acting strange the week prior. The New York Post obtained a police report where the family mentioned she claimed to be hearing “demon voices.” Her family was concerned with her behavior, especially the day she had gone missing. It was reported she ran off to an electrical plant earlier that morning. When she left for her evening sun, she did not take her phone or ID or wear any shoes.
The Memorial Run
Arielle Valdes’ sister, Isabella Hergert, set up a GoFundMe to create a memorial for Valdes and to handle other expenses. So far, “Blossoms of Hope: Supporting Arielle’s Family and Her Memory” has raised over $11,000. The day after Valdes’ body was found, family and friends gathered in a park to share stories and pictures. They shared with NBC that Valdes had lived a spiritual life. Her sister said running brought Valdes peace. Valdes was in the middle of training for a marathon in October; in honor of her life, her friends and family intend to race for her.
On Thursday, September 5, hundreds of runners attended Centennial Park for a memorial run. While many did not know Valdes personally, they wanted to show their support and honor her life by doing something she loved. Isabella Hergert told WINK, “I feel an overwhelming amount of love right now from the community, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who is here and organized this.”
Final Thoughts
Valdes’ runs typically did not last longer than an hour. When she failed to return home, her family reported her missing. The police responded around 8:30 p.m. to the Valdes family home; within the next hour, they had deployed a drone and K9 unit to begin the search. Investigators found her body on early in the morning on September 2. Valdes’ family told The New York Post, “While we hoped and prayed for her safe return, we now face the unimaginable reality of having to say goodbye.”
Although it is assumed no foul play occurred, what happened to Arielle Valdes is a tragedy. The Lee County community is grieving alongside Valdes’ family. Her friends and family said Valdes did not show that she was struggling with her mental health. According to them, Arielle Valdes was always a bright light in the lives of those around her. She was a spiritual young woman who carried her crystals everywhere. She was beloved by many. Her memory will live on in her family and friends.
